Other reasons behind Audi STCC exit

According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen there is another reason for Audi leaving the Swedish Touring Car Championship for next season. According to them Kristoffersson Motorsport wanted to continue with the current A4 in 2008 before switching to the new one in 2009, instead of taking a year off. Instead Audi Sweden has favored Mattias Ekström’s new Audi JTCC (junior support class to STCC) team.

In 2009 Kristoffersson Motorsport with team boss Tommy Kristoffersson will have to fight for the Audi-deal with other teams, despite the team having run Audi in STCC for nine years.

“I have asked the question to Audi regarding Mattias’ (Ekström) JTCC team and what will happen if Audi decides to return in 2009. The answer was that all teams are at zero and everyone has to fight for the deal. What we have done before is worth nothing,” said team boss Kristoffersson to Expressen.

Upon the question if Audi will use Ekström’s team if they return, Kristoffersson answered:
“I can only speculate in it. We introduced a idea where we would run a JTCC-team a long side our regular STCC-team. But since then we have not heard anything,” said Kristoffersson.

Raine Wermelin from Audi Sweden confirms that Audi can return to the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
“Until then there are other arenas where we are competing, like the DTM and 24 hours of Le Mans,” said Wermelin.